Coyotes News

Brisebois is Puck-Moving Defenseman Who Plays with an Edge

GLENDALE -- The Coyotes added another talented young defenseman to the organization on Wednesday when they signed Mathieu Brisebois to a three-year entry-level contract.

Mathieu Brisebois

“I’m really excited,” said Brisebois, a fast, offensive-minded defenseman who likes to move the puck and play on the power play. “It’s part of a dream come true for me and something I’ve worked hard for for so many years. This is a reward for me.”

Brisebois is playing for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He entered Wednesday’s game vs. Sherbrooke co-leading the QMJHL in points among defensemen with 67 (17 goals, 50 assists).

“He’s a puck-moving defenseman but he plays a hard game and he has an edge to him, which we like,” Coyotes Assistant General Manager Brad Treliving said. “He’s a strong kid.”

He added, “Like every young player he needs to learn more about defending against bigger and better players and playing within a system, but when you look at the young defensemen in our system, we don’t have a lot of guys with his skill-set. He’s got some dynamic elements to his game.”

Like his father, Brisebois started his hockey career as a forward. Unlike his dad, he switched to defense at a key stage in his development.

Brisebois will continue to play for Rouyn-Noranda until that team’s season ends. After that, he will report to the Portland Pirates, the Coyotes’ affiliate in the American Hockey League.

“I am always ready to play at higher level,” Brisebois said. “That would be a pleasure for me.”